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(No Model.)

V. HIMMER.

CIRCUIT CCNIRCLLBR ICII BLIIC'IIIIC CLOCKS.

No. 274,323. Patented Mar. 20, 18%,Vr

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N. PKTERS, Pnmmhop-phur, washington. D C.

UNITD STATES PATENT Ormea.

VITALS HIMMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOlt TO THE llhlll TELE- GRAPH COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRl CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 274,323, dated March 20, 1883 (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Vi'rALis HIMMER., a ci tiy zen ofthe United States, and a resident ofthe secondary clocks included in one and the same electric circuit, the connections of which circuit are established and broken at regularlyrecurring intervals by the movements of the central clock.

Heretot'ore it has been usual, in systems of this kind, to include certain of the moving parts of the regulating-clock in the electric circuit. It has been found in practice that this arrangement interferes with the correct action of the clock mechanism, in consequence of the variable expansion ofthe metals under the influence ofthe heat generated by the passage of the currents. Moreover, the electrical connections soon become uncertain and imperfect, and constant care and attention are required to keep the whole in working order.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient circui tcontroller or breaker having no electrical connection with the moving parts of the regulating-clock, but which is nevertheless adapted to be actuated by the pendulum at each oscillation, the connection therewith being such as notto interfere in any way with its normal action.

To this end my invention comprises a light pivoted lever, which is preferably counterbalanced and placed in a position parallel with the pendulum and at a short distance therefrom. The upper end of thelever is connected with the pendulum by means of a horizontal bar, preferably of insulating material. An adjustable clamp is also placed on thependulumrod near its point of suspension. The horizontal bar is not connected directly with said clamp, but is pivoted to an intermediate rod, which is provided with means for accurately adjusting the perpendicular position of the lever. The lever also carries below its point of suspension a contact-pin, normally insulated from but capable of moving to and fro between two other contact pins or plates, thus forming an electrical connection therewith alternately as the pendulum swings back and forth. By means of this device an electric circuit is opened and closed at each beat of the pendulum, in which are included any required number of secondary clocks of suitable construction. rlhe contact pins or plates between which the pin upon the lever moves are mounted upon slender adjustable springs, by which means perfect electrical contact is assured, while the mechanical resistance otlered by the device is rendered so small as to produce no appreciable effect upon the oscillations ofthe pendulum.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a front elevation ofthe circuit-breaker, showing in diagram its electrical connections with the secondary clock, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

te'ferring to the drawings, A represents the pendulum-rod of a suitable central clock or regulator, which may be actuated by a spring, cord, and weight, electrically or otherwise. The pendulum-rod A is suspended by its upper extremity from a bracket, B, secured to the back-board b or to the fra nic-work of the clock.

ln the drawings l have not deemed it necessary to show any means for imparting motion to the pendulum-rod A, for the reason that the invention relates exclusively to the circuitbreaker and the means of actuating it by the movements of a pendulum, without reference' to the particular manner in which the pendulum itself is actuated.

Secured to the back-board b is a standard, O, from which extends an arm, c, for supporting the circuit-breaking device, the position of the latter being preferably a little distance beyond the normal swing of the pendulum-rod A. The frame-work D of the circuit-breaking device is secured to the arm c in its proper position with reference to the pendulum-rod A by means ot' a suitable clamping-screw, c', which extends through a threaded-hole into an aperture, c2, correspondingin form with the arm c, along which the circuit-breaker is con- ICQ arms E and E', which in turn are mounted upon the frame D. Apin,f, carried upon the short arm ot' the lever F, projects between the pins or wires e and e,which form one electrode ot' a battery, 0, being electrically connected therewith through the frame D, standard C, binding-screw o3, and wire Z. The lever F is mounted upon the axis g, turning in suitable bearings, g' and g2, in the upper portion, el', of the frame-work D, which isinsulated from t-he lower portion, d, by means of a block, D', of hard rubberorother suitable material, to which both are secured. The lever F terminates at its upper extremity in alonglight rod, G2, and is preferably counterbalanced by means ofthe extension G', which is so proportioned that the upper arm, G2, will be very nearly or quite balanced in whatever position it may at any time be placed.

A flexible metallic strip or ribbon, H, preferably of silver rolled very thin, forms an electrical connection between thcleverF and frame d', one endof it being secured to the latter by a screw, 7l., while the other end is secured to the lever, near to or opposite the trunnion g', by means ofthe screw h'.

A binding-post, I, is provided for making an electrical connection from a battery, 0,with the frame-work ot' the apparatus by means of the wire 2.

It will be understood that when the leverF is caused to oscillate the pin f will come alternately in contact with the wirescand e,there by closing the circuit ofthe battery o.

The means for communicating the required motion to the lever F from the pendulum A consists of a tlexible bar, 7.', the lower end ot' which is secured to the pendulum-rod A by means of an adjustable clamp, K, constructed to embrace the pendulum or to be firmly at'- iixed thereto in any required vertical positionB Io the upper end of the flexible arm k is piv- Voted a link, L, preferably of non-conducting material-such as hard rubber or ivory-the opposite end of which is pivoted to the upper extremity ofthe lever F.

For the purpose of adjusting the position of the lever F with reference to the pendulum A, so that the lever shall stand in a position midway between the wiresrl and e when the pendulum is at rest, I provide an adjusting-screw, 7e', which extends through 'a corresponding threaded hole formed in thetlexible arm L near its extremity. rlhe adjusting-screw 7s serves to bend the spring-arm outwardfrom the pendulum-rod. by pressing the same, as shown in Fig. l..

It will be evident from the foregoing explana- 'tion that each vibration ot' the pendulumrod estaca A will be communicated to the lever F by means ofthe spring-arm and connecting-link L, thereby causing the contactpin j' to be brought alternately into electrical connection with the contact-wires c and e", thus closing a circuit from the battery o, through the wire 2, binding-post I, flexible ribbon II, to the lever F; thence through the pin f and contact-wire c or c' to the lower portion, d, ofthe frame-work D, bracket C, binding -post c, and wire l, through the clock M, to the other pole of thc battery o.

For the purpose of securing accurate adjustment ofthe various parts ot' the device, I provide, in addition to the means already described 'or adjusting the position ot' the lever F with reference to the clock-pendulum, the following means for adjusting the positions oi' the contact-wires e and e with reference to the contactpinf. The supports E and E', t'or carrying the wires e and c, are themselves supported upon a bar, D2, secured to the lug d5 upon the lower portion, d, ot' thc frame D. A screw, fi, binds the lower extremities ot` the arms E and E upon opposite sides ot" the uprightl)2 by passing through an elongated hole or slot, fi', formed therein. By loosening the screw t' the vertical positions ofthe arms may be varied, thereby changing the positions of the pins c and e with reference to the point ot contact with the pin fwhenever such change is desired on account ot' the wearing away of the wires c and e by the friction caused by repeated contacts.

For the purpose of adjusting the normal distance between the wires e and c and their distance from the contact-pin j', I provide two ad justing-screws, m and m, which turn in corresponding threads formed in the arms E and E', respectively, and by pressing against the upright l)2 may be caused to spring the arms E a-nd E outwardly to any required distance. By means ot' this adjustment l am enabled to secure a uniform interval of contact between the pin j' and each ot' the wires or pins c and e', and at the same time to place the t'ormerin such a position that a contact will be made therewith only when the lever F is near the limit ot' its vibration.

In addition to these adjustments, I prefer to mount the wires e and e' upon the thin iexible arms or springs Z and Z, which are ot' any suitable conducting material which will readily yield to a slight pressure exerted upon the wires. The springs Z and Z are secured to the arms E and E,respectively, by means of suitable binding-screws, Z2 and Z3, which are constructed to turn in corresponding1 threads formed in the arms E and E', respectively. The springs may be revolved about the centers formed by the screws Z2 and Z3, and secured in the required positions by tightening the same. This construction provides not only for the delicate contact between thepins and contactwires, but also permits the Wires e and e to be adj usted in ahorizontal position with reference to the pin fwheneyer such adjustment is de- IOO IIS

sired to bring into use a different point upon the length of the pin f. The pin f may also be made adjustable by extending it through an aperture, n,- formed in the lever F, and securing it in its required position by a set-screw, n', projecting into the aperture u at right an gles thereto.

It will be observed that the contact-pin fis caused by the vibration of the pendulum A to vibrate through a small arc, and t0 come into contact with the wires e and e at the respective extremities of that arc. The Contact which is made with these wires will, owing to the flexibility of the springs Z and l', be a frictional contact, caused by the sliding of the pinfupward upon the wires e and c' during the remaining portion of its vibration afterA coming in contact therewith. In this manner the contact-surfaces will be kept bright and good electrical connection will be at all times insured.

To prevent the lever F from being swung through an arc ot' too great an amplitude, I provide suitable limiting-stops, 1) and p', projecting from the frame-work d beyond the normal limit ot' vibration ot' the lever.

Instead of employing flexible arms for supporting ,the pins e and e', small rigid weighted .levers may be employed.

In some instances it may be found desirable to employ only one ot' the pins, e or e', so that the circuit will be closed when the pendulum A swings to one side only, thus causing the electric clocks included in the circuit l 2 to beat seconds when the pendulum of the regulatingclock beats half-seconds.

I claim as my invention- 1.. The combination, substantially as hereinbelore set forth, with a clock mechanism and a vibrating pendulum, of an electric circuitbreaker mechanically operated by said pendulum, but insulated therefrom and from said mechanism.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbei'ore set forth. with the pendulum of a regulating-clock, of a circuit-controlling device consisting ot' a pivoted lever, a contact-pin mounted upon said lever and electrically connected with one pole of a battery or electric generator, contacts placed at opposite sides of' said contact-pin and in electric connection with the opposite pole of said battery or electric generator, and alink connecting said lever with said pendulum, whereby a vibratory movement is communicated from the pendulum to the lever, and the contact-piu is brought into contact with said contacts alternately at each vibration.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clock-penduluima circuitclosing lever, mechanism, substantially such as described, for imparting a vibratory motion to said lever, electrical contacts at opposite sides of said lever, and an adjustable contact-pin carried upon said lever and alternately placed by the vibrations of the lever in electrical connection with said contacts, respectively.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clock-pendulum, a circuitclosing lever, a spring-arm attached at one end to said pendulum, a link uniting the opposite extremity ot' said spring-arm to said lever, and a set-screw for adjusting the position of the upper extremity ofsaid spring-arm to and from the pendulum-rod.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a pivoted circuitclosing lever, a contact-pin carried upon the short arm of said lever, electrical contacts at each side of said contact-pin, flexible springs for supporting said contacts, and means, substantially such as described, for adjusting the longitudinal positions of said contacts.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbet'ore set forth, of a circuit-breaking lever, a contact-pin mounted thereon, a contact at each side of said contact-pin, and flexible arms for supporting the respective contacts, and means, substantially such as described,'for adjust-ing the lateral positions of said flexible arms.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a circuit-closing lever, a contact-pin mounted thereon, a contact at each side of said pin, flexible or yielding supports for said contacts, and means, substantially such as described,for adjusting the vertical and lateral positions of said supports and contacts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of September, A. D. 1882.

VITALIS HIMMER.

Witnesses DANIEL W. EDGECOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY. 

